HCCSP Manager Helen Burridge recently presented at the APSE Energy London Conference, sharing emerging work on how local authorities can recognise the carbon value of their green spaces within operational carbon reporting.
Helen’s session explored HCCSP’s research into Green Asset Sequestration – the carbon removed from the atmosphere by natural environments such as parks, woodlands, wetlands and roadside verges.
The work began with a question from a Hertfordshire local authority partner: is it possible, and appropriate, for councils to account for the carbon sequestration provided by the green spaces they manage?
To explore this, HCCSP commissioned research from the University of Hertfordshire examining the legal and ethical basis for including these assets within carbon reporting. The research concluded that recognising this sequestration can be legitimate, as local authorities voluntarily manage and protect natural assets that are not a statutory requirement to maintain.
Further investigation identified similar work undertaken by the Welsh Local Government Association, which has developed a carbon accounting tool to estimate sequestration from local authority land. By applying similar principles to Hertfordshire’s biodiversity baseline and mapping green spaces under local authority ownership, HCCSP has been able to develop an indicative estimate of the carbon captured by these assets for the original enquiring authority.
Initial findings suggest that sequestration from green assets could represent a significant proportion of a local authority’s residual emissions, highlighting the important climate value of natural spaces.
The presentation generated strong interest from officers working across climate, biodiversity and green spaces teams. A detailed report of the pilot project is now being finalised and will be considered by HCCSP partners to explore whether the approach could be developed further across the county.
HCCSP is committed to sharing learning and innovation across local government, helping partners strengthen the rigour and transparency of their climate reporting while recognising the wider environmental benefits of green infrastructure.
With thanks to APSE Energy for hosting such an engaging and thought-provoking event.